Article: Simplified Meaning, Types And Usage In English Grammar

An article is a word used to modify a noun. Examples are person, place, object, or idea. Technically speaking, an article is an adjective, which is any word that modifies a noun.

Ideally, adjectives modify nouns through description, but articles are used instead to point out or refer to nouns.

Basically, there are two types of articles namely: Definite and Indefinite Articles.

Examples of indefinite article are:- ‘a’ and ‘an’. Articles are always placed before a noun, a phrase or an adjective in order to point out how the noun, phrase or adjective is used. Have it in mind that for an article to appear in a sentence, it will appear before a noun or an adjective.

Technically, ‘a’ is placed before a word or group of words that begin with a consonant. E.g a boy, a group of boys, a wild goat, a cat etc.

Also, ‘an’ is placed before a word or group of words that begin with a vowel sound. E.g an aeroplane, an ugly look etc.

Exceptional Uses:- There are some words and abbreviations that go against the above principles on the application of ‘a’ and ‘an’. This is due to the nature of their oral sounds and transcription. E.g a uniform, a union, a unit, an FM radio, an NTA member of staff, an SS2 student etc.

Assignment
Supply a determiner wherever necessary in each of the following sentences:
1. ………. Mouse is a very small animal.
2. We saw ……….cat run across he room.
3. I prefer………….rainy season to ……………harmattan.
4. ………..dogs are preferable to ……………..cats.

In summary, articles are very important in English grammar for good and effective communication skills. We need articles to enhance brilliant written and spoken English in our daily English usage.